Saturday, August 28, 2010

MY ASS.

‘Aye. Come to think of it…. when’s the last time you saw a donkey pullinga cart?’

‘When I was a wee lad that’s all you saw around these parts. Donkeys pulling carts. Carts with creamery cans. Carts with turf. Carts with sea weed. And donkeys pulling them’.

‘The last time I tried to back a donkey into a cart it turned into abucking bronco. Remember that wee dark she donkey, Susie? As quiet as a mouse until you tried to back her into a cart….. then … There is nothing worse than a donkey with attitude. But you wud know all about that anyway, wudn’t you? With the work you do.’

‘Don’t talk about work. The holidays is nearly over’.

‘So is the rain. Just in time for the kids going back to school. When’s the last time you saw a donkey cart?’

‘Ah Wee Boots probably knows where to get one. Wee Boots is a great donkeyman. He brought two wee foals up from Galway. One in the back of the car.That was in the days before seat belts were compulsory. He used to have a donkey cart. He had it out at the Féile parade last year. His family are big donkey people.’

‘Had he a donkey pulling the cart at the Féile Parade?’

‘He had. It was a great success.’

‘I wonder how he got the donkey into the shafts?’

‘It was an old donkey. It must have carted before. I was there when he harnessed it up. When he finished it just backed into the cart itself’.

‘Janey! An old donkey. You wudn’t get a young donkey to do that nowadays. You cudnt teach a new donkey old tricks. Not for a million pounds!’

‘What wud a donkey want with a million pounds?’

‘That’s just a figure of speech’.

‘Maybe it’s the donkeys getting their own back? Remember when there wereheaps of donkeys all over Ireland , more or less abandoned when they fellout of fashion. Remember their wee hooves wud be all curled up at the front?’

‘I do. They were like those shoes that Aladdin wears in the pantomimes’.

‘Little wonder the donkeys took the needle.’

‘Do you know that a Jennet is a cross between a donkey and a horse? And aMule is a cross between a horse and a donkey?’

‘It’s the other way around.’

‘Nawh, it’s not’.

‘Donkeys are originally from North Africa. They were brought to Irelandafter the Napoleonic wars. And the cross appeared on their backs afterJesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. There are still lots ofdonkeys in Eastern Europe. It’s like Ireland in the fifties and sixties.The donkeys there probably pull carts without any bother’.

‘I blame the Celtic Tiger. Why all this interest in donkeys all of a sudden?’

‘I was always interested in donkeys’.

‘But you’re actually blogging about donkeys!’

‘Well, I got this photo this morning on my phone from Minnie Mo. Her donkey foaled last week’.

‘Janey. It’s in the kitchen. And its white.’

‘Well it’s only born. Where else wud it be. That’s Henry óg with it?’

‘Minnie Mo is lukin a name for it. That’s why I’m doing this blog. It’s a baby boy’.

‘Call it something biblical? Jacob?’

‘She has a Jacob.’

‘Oh and she says that Naomh Eoghans won the Under 16 Camogie championshiplast night.’

‘Great! A big one that! Fair play.’

‘Call it Johnny?’

‘Camogs are girls.’

‘But they’re the Johnnies’

‘Then call it Champion!’

‘That doesn’t sound right. It’s probably indicative of the low esteem inwhich we hold donkeys. Champion the wonder donkey doesn’t have the same ring to it as Champion the wonder horse!’

‘Its no wonder they won’t pull carts. Anyway maybe someone out there in the real world will have a name for Minnie Mo’s ass’.

‘Maybe?’

'What about Cheeky?'

Naomh Eoin Camogs are U16 Championship Winners 2010

Naomh Eoin 4gls 11pts Loughgiel 1gl 2pts

First time ever for the Johnnies...

Also, congratulations to Gort na Móna camógs on winning the Antrim Junior Champonship final, and best of luck in Ulster!

Nice view into the life Gerry. Was doing some research on Donkey life,The Donkey Sanctuary in part. The sanctuary is a place where a donkey can bray to their heart's content,somewhat like the House of Commons. We often think as important the Human Rights issues are,but for sure.The donkey charter grants to every donkey that enters the Sanctuary the right of life,care. Much like the workers of Ireland, the simple Donkey having labored for Ireland and for the people of Ireland, arrives in very poor condition,much labored, dragging carts and carrying peat. The Sanctuary grants them a full retirement of peace and freedom. As like the needs of all Irish people ,the donkey Sanctuary dedicated is to ensuring an end to their suffering and a beginning to a life of loving care. If only nations of the would could treat it's people such care with Human Rights like even the Donkey can gain. The donkey's bray is heard , and his needs meet. The Donkey Sanctuary Web: www.thedonkeysanctuary.ie Co. Cork. Note, Hurling yes , the best of all sports, open to all. thanks again Gerry